Cork GP assures public that they can still visit their doctors for non-Covid-19 issues

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A Cork GP says doctors are worried that patients are not seeking help for non-coronavirus related health issues.

Dr Mike Thompson, who has a busy family practice in East Cork, says it's important the public know that they can still visit their GPs in safety and in segregation from possible coronavirus cases.

The Imokilly Medical Centre GP, who has been providing regular updates and advice on social media, has urged patients not to ignore their day-to-day health or any issues that may arise during this ongoing public health emergency.

Dr Thompson says many GPs are growing increasingly concerned their patients think their surgeries are closed, or are only dealing with Covid-19 patients, or are too busy to deal with "regular" health issues.

"Please, please do not think GP is closed!" said Dr Thompson in a social media post.

"We are open - just ring ahead. GPs are becoming concerned about "unintended victims" of Covid."

Dr Thompson has reached a lot of people through his twitter account and one video posted on St Patrick's Day underlined the serious with which GPs were taking the outbreak in the weeks before the most restrictive social distancing measures were implemented.

The East Cork GP is one of a growing number of medics in Cork and across the country who are using social media to reassure, inform and stay in touch with their patients during this anxious time and you can follow him on his twitter account.